February, 2011

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…for

discerning weeders

A Newsletter of the Okaloosa County Master Gardeners Association –– February 2011

Happy Valentine’s Day Language of Flowers Ahhh! Love is in the air...at least I THINK it is. If it wasn’t too cold to take a deep breath and feel the promise of spring. Buds must be swelling but it is still too cold to go out and notice these little things. Just take it on faith that it is happening, or soon will. In the 1600's, a language of flowers developed in Constantinople and in the poetry of Persia. Charles II introduced the Persian poetry to Europe, and Lady Mary Wortley Montagu brought the flower language from Turkey to England in 1716. It spread to France and became a handbook of 800 floral messages known as the Book Le Language des Fleurs. Lovers exchanged messages as they gave each other selected flowers or bouquets. A full red rose meant beauty. Red and white mean unity. Crocus said "abuse not", while a white rosebud warns that one is too young for love. Yellow roses were for jealousy, yellow iris for passion, filbert for reconciliation and ivy for marriage. http://www.gardendigest.com/flowers.htm

Okaloosa County Master Gardeners

Lynn Fabian Some of the flower associations make sense. Rue means regret...you’ll rue the day. The sunflower stood for pure and lofty thoughts; what flower stands taller? The violet for faithfulness and modesty (depends on the color!). A shrinking violet may be modest, but she doesn’t get to have much fun. Better to be viscaria and get those invitations to dance. Lavender sounds like the Gemini of flowers; it stands for devotion and distrust...Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in flowers. Fennel will give you strength and Forget-me-not means true love. The Poppy stands for oblivion, pleasure, dreams and success...just pick your color. Carnations can mean everything from yes to no, again just pick the right color.

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